Mission for Cleethorpes to host National Armed Forces event 10 years on
A mission is underway to bring the National Armed Forces Day celebrations back to Cleethorpes.
The resort first hosted the national event in 2016 when the then Prime Minister, David Cameron was joined by the top brass from the Armed Forces to take the salute at The Knoll. Now the volunteer members of North East Lincolnshire Armed Forces team have their sights set on bringing the event back to mark the 10th anniversary of the spectacular parade, in support of veterans and service personnel, in 2026. The Duke of Kent represented The Queen at the 2016 event.
Due to the D-Day 80th commemorations in June this year there was not a National event, other than the regional events, told Armed Forces champion, Alex Baxter. He said Northern Ireland is due to host the national event next year.
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Those flying the flag for a national event in Cleethorpes in 2026, include the Armed Forces Team for the borough, business leaders and MPs. It is estimated around £3million is injected into the visitor economy for North East Lincolnshire each time the resort hosts the Armed Forces Weekend.
Cleethorpes has around 250,000 visitors flocking to the seafront to see flight displays by The Red Arrows, who this year marked their 60th anniversary with a Diamond Nine formation. There are also two days with a stunning Typhoon display. There were a host of other attractions in June when a D-Day display was held near to Cleethorpes Boating Lake, along with an array of tanks and army hardware.
There was also a fireworks display and live entertainment from choirs and bands on stage at the Remembrance Gate in Cleethorpes.
The spectacular event was thanks to a dedicated band of volunteers, including Alex Baxter, Chris Shaw, Gavin Marshall, Andy Burch, Paul Woolnough and Tanya Thomson along with an ensemble of other volunteers who look after the structure and finance of the major event.
Team leader, Alex Baxter said: "It would be nice to host the National Event again. There is international recognition for the Cleethorpes Armed Forces Weekend, with people who came this year from New Zealand, Australia, Canada and the United States.
"£3million is no small number and everybody will tell you their businesses have the best weekend of the year on Armed Forces Weekend. It is hard work but we would be up for the challenge so let's get behind it for 2026."
Managing director for E-factor in North East Lincolnshire, Mark Webb, told Grimsby Live: "Armed Forces Day is one of the highlights in Cleethorpes' calendar, that benefits the people who live there, particularly businesses. It is unsurpassed, as a weekend event and none more so than the National Event."
He said the boost to revenue for restaurants, bed and breakfasts, hotels and retailers for that weekend is important.
"The Armed Forces Weekend is a triumph by Alex Baxter and his team. We should recognise their hard work. The event has continued to be a reason for great celebration and pride. I would entirely support the idea of another National Event in Cleethorpes to mark the 10th anniversary of the first one. It would benefit not only the people of the borough and businesses but our Armed Forces."
Stalwart of the Armed Forces Team, Chris Shaw said the Cleethorpes Light Railway had their most popular weekend at the June event. "They had the best weekend they have ever had. And that was at the furthest most point of the event. Imagine how all the businesses in between there and the rest of Cleethorpes did." He thanked Phillips 66, ABP and RWE and other sponsors for their continued financial support for the Armed Forces event.
MP for the newly-formed seat of Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Melanie Onn said she would speak with the Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey at their party conference in Liverpool this weekend. The Secretary of State represents a South Yorkshire constituency.
She said: "I consider him (John Healey) to be a friend of Grimsby and Cleethorpes. I worked with him when he was Shadow Minister for Communities and Housing.. I can speak to him when we are at the party conference about the area's long-established military links and how it will be 10 years in 2026 since we last hosted the National Event. It would be fitting because it is a decade since the last one and we always have bumper crowds.
"It speaks closely to the hearts of people and there are lots who have served or are serving or have someone in the family who is serving in the Armed Forces. We have such a good location, with spectacular views and space for wonderful parades and The Red Arrows are just down the road!"
The MP added: "It would be a good opportunity to extend the traditional footprint of the event to include areas such as the North Prom. The Grub Fest was a huge success in the summer, promoting local produce and traders. Maybe it is an opportunity to encourage more local traders and fewer of the far-reaching businesses, travelling in for the event. Extending the attraction would give people more areas to explore, including the North Prom."
Brigg and Immingham MP, Martin Vickers, who was formerly Cleethorpes MP said: "I support efforts to get it here again because of the excellent record in staging the event. It has been recognised by the MoD (Ministry of Defence). I will do all I can to support Alex and the team. It is a massive feat of organisation."
The 2025 event will be staged in Cleethorpes from June 27 to 29.